Tips for Hiring a Videographer.

What a videographer needs to know.

When starting a video project you’re going to want to have all the right things in place before beginning. Video projects tend to be complex by their very nature so if the groundwork isn’t laid down correctly then you could find that you run into trouble in the future or the project may not live up to you expectation. Most videographers will ask the same questions at the very beginning but it’s really helpful if you’ve already been mulling the answers over in your head.

The first thing that I always want to talk about is your idea. You may have a vague inkling of an idea or you may have a fully fleshed out concept, either way a videographer is going to have to know so that they can do the rest of their job properly. The problem with not having a solid idea from the start is that then the project can run away with itself and you might not get the video that you wanted. When we know your plans we can streamline every bit of the process to meeting your goals and I’m sure that this would be a better outcome for you. I personally feel that the best way to do this is to send over an example video or a few example videos. This gives a clear visual representation of what you’re looking for plus you can tell the videographer about any extra bits that you want. This also means that you don’t have to have a fully completed idea right at the start of the conversation.

The next thing that will probably come up is your timescale for the video. If you’re flexible about time then that’s great but most people are working to a deadline and that’s definitely something a videographer needs to know to do their job correctly. Most videographers will be able to work within your timescale but it’s really helpful to know this rather than having it sprung on us at the last minute. With a deadline in mind a videographer can schedule his shooting and editing as well as factor in some contingency days. Everything can be targeted towards your deadline date so that you get your video when you want it and the videographer isn’t pulling their hair out. The other reason that this is super important is that your idea may not be possible in the time limit you’ve given. If this is the case, then knowing your timescale allows a videographer to give an informed opinion about what might need to change in order to make the project workable.

Now that this has all been dealt with a videographer is going to want to know your budget. It’s often an uncomfortable subject but if it isn’t dealt with right at the beginning then I can guarantee there are going to be some major issues with the project. A budget doesn’t mean how much a videographer is going to pocket. It does allow for their time and effort but it also covers things like equipment hire, music licenses and locations and without knowing the money you have for these things then planning the project will become guess work. This is never a good way to work so you absolutely must have this in mind before you start contacting videographers. Again, a budget will also determine whether your idea is possible and if it’s not then your videographer can talk with you about how to make it possible.

Finally, you need to think about exactly who your video is for. A videographer will know what type of video will best suit a certain type of person and this allows them to shape the whole video to fit this. When they have a certain type of person or people in mind they can make informed choices about how to best present your message. If they don’t have access to this information you might get a great video, but not one that speaks to the people you want to target and in my eyes this is a very bad thing.

If you start off with these questions and answers in mind, I guarantee that you’ll get a much smoother and more enjoyable videography experience. If you’ve found this helpful don’t forget to sign up our newsletter and get more tips like this sent directly to your mailbox. If you have any other questions please feel free to get in touch, we’re always happy to chat with you!

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About Us

Broken Physics Productions are a video production company based in Southampton, Hampshire. We offer a wide range of video production services for businesses ranging from promotional videos, animation and aerial filming. Our services are available nationwide.